If you have it in mind to dust off your now-ancient fly fishing stuff and get back in the game, you’re probably itchin’ to eBay your old rod and reel and modern-up your gear. That certainly starts with a fly rod upgrade (or two) but, close behind, you’ll definitely want to dial up a nice new state-of-the art reel. While some purist anglers still love the classic narrow-spool reel, you’d be wise to comparison shop. In doing so, you will soon be asking: What is a large-arbor fly reel?
A large-arbor fly reel features a much larger center spool than traditional narrow-spool reels. Whereas a traditional reel’s spool is around ½ inch in diameter, a large-arbor reel’s spool diameter typically measures in at 2 ¾ inch or more. Large-arbor fly reels provide for a faster line retrieve, which is why many anglers prefer them.
In fact, the large-arbor reel design offers many advantages over traditionally designed narrow-spool reels. So what are these benefits? Let’s explore them together.
What follows are 7 key benefits of a large-arbor fly reel.
Faster Line Retrieve
I was an early adopter to the large-arbor reel revolution (pun intended). Here’s why:
It’s a bad habit, but I’m one of these guys who likes to think he can cast a fly from here to Scranton.
I can’t. So, it’s safe to say that I tend to have a little too much line fed out. If I’m fishing in a big river, it’s not unusual to see me with a long cast out ahead of me, and about half as much line looped, uselessly lolling in the current below me. Because of this, if I hook up on a fish, I quickly strip in slack, then spend what seems like the next four hours reeling in excess line so that I can get my fleeing and fighting catch “on the reel.”
(Yes, I know Mr. Do-Everything-Right-Guy, It’s…a…bad…habit. I admitted that in the beginning of this paragraph, ya zippy, so I’d appreciate it if you’d get up outta my face about it. I’m working on it!)
Before I scored a large-arbor reel, this was even more of a problem. Picture a guy desperately trying not to lose his fish while madly reeling in miles of line on a reel spool seemingly no bigger than a toothpick. Add a little down-river walk, and now I’m not only reeling in line at a rate of one inch per minute, I’m getting myself tangled up in line like King Tut got himself wrapped up in bandages. Not a good situation!
On my old faithful Ross narrow-spool — a reel that I have since relegated to heirloom status and handed down to my son — I managed to catch what must have been thousands of trout. And as much as I revere and miss the old guy, I will never use a narrow-spool reel again.
I think it’s also safe to say that you understand why, but I’ll say it anyway: a large-arbor reel retrieves line at least five times the rate of a narrow-spool and, as such, solves a whole slew of problems for a guy like me. Therefore, as soon as I saw my first advertisement for a large-arbor reel, it immediately made sense to me. I was all over it.
Less Stress On The Fish
Here at FFF, we’re all about having a blast fly fishing, and this means enjoying the absolute thrill of both the catch and the play. Nevertheless, we consistently advocate for making sure you don’t play a fish too long and, in so doing, exhaust the fish beyond its ability to recover.
If you’ve ponied up for a sweet new large-arbor reel, you’ve, perhaps unknowingly, taken a big step toward being a responsible fly fishing citizen. With its ability to reel in line at a massively faster pace — not to mention the fact that modern reels feature more advanced drag systems — you’ll be able to play a fish well. But, when it’s time to give ‘em the wood, you’ll be able to do so with power and quickness.
This is ultimately better for the fish on the end of your line. Assuming you want to net, admire, photograph and release your prize, then quickly get on to the business of doing it again soon, a large-arbor reel is the answer.
Easier On Your Line
Regardless of how new and supple your line may be, fly fishing line is still subject to line memory. Thus, the more tightly it’s wrapped around a small spool, especially since your reel may sit for long periods of time between fishing outings, the more likely it is to maintain its curls when you most need it to cast clean and lay flat on the water.
With its significantly bigger center spool diameter, a large-arbor reel simply reduces such stress on your fly line.
Fewer Tangles
Closely associated with the previous benefit is the idea that tighter memory-curled line has a much greater likelihood of getting itself into a horrifying gnarl. Multiply this by a factor of one million if you’re cursed with the same too-much-line-out disease I wrestle with. So, when it comes to the complicated science of gnarl reduction, I’m for anything that keeps me fishing, not detangling.
When I first started using a large-arbor reel, the frequency of that aggravating occurrence dropped to the lowest level I’d ever known. Suddenly, the whole fly fishing experience became strangely more enjoyable than it already had been. And anytime something great is made even greater, well, count me in.
Large-arbor reel. Learn it. Love it. Live it.
They Look Sweet
Warning – Captain Obvious Alert: I think fly rod, reel, clothing and gear manufacturers have long since realized that we anglers are suckers for cool-looking stuff. We may act like we’re about function over form but, if we’re being honest with ourselves, “look-neat factor” plays a monster role in our purchase decisions. And if there’s anything in the fly fishing world that accomplishes that better than modern large-arbor reels do, I’m all ears to your argument. Of course, if something looks cooler than a sleek, new large-arbor reel, I’ll probably need to rush out and buy it — that is, if I don’t have whatever it is already.
Don’t get me wrong, I revere and appreciate the look, style and historic appeal of a classic narrow-spool reel, but large-arbor reel designs are just plain sexy! Sign me up! Oh, wait, I’m already signed up. Sign YOU up!
Less Knuckle-Whack
Okay, maybe this is a stretch, but for those of you who have experienced “knuckle whack,” the larger-arbor reel is a very attractive option.
Knuckle whack happens when a hard-fighting trout thinks you’re a wuss who can’t play at the varsity level, and decides to make a run for it. Startled by its audacity, you, who has been temporarily mesmerized by the joy of a fish-on situation, lose your grip on your reel’s handle, which then spins freely at the speed of light before you, still catatonic, try to regain your grip on it and your senses. This is when knuckle-whack happens. And if you’ve fly fished long enough, it will happen to you. When it does, I can promise, you won’t like it. Why? Because it hurts like the dickens!
Will a large-arbor reel save you from this fate? No. However, given the same situation, it will reduce knuckle whack rapidity and, therefore, knuckle whack pain. And what wuss wouldn’t appreciate that?
Break Your Fall
Although I wouldn’t recommend you count this among the large-arbor reel’s main attributes, the fact that mine has served as a sturdy hand protector for several sudden falls has to stack up as a bonus benefit, don’t you think?
Our first instinct when faced with an unexpected wipe out is to try to break our fall by thrusting our hands and arms out. Well, that doesn’t work so well when one of your hands is gripping your undoubtedly expensive (and really neat-looking) rod-n-reel.
Since a large-arbor reel is typically larger in overall diameter than a narrow-spool reel, it provides a wider finger-saving gap between jagged rock and vulnerable hand flesh. And as much as I dread scratching or otherwise jacking up my awesome large-arbor reel, I have a much greater aversion to broken fingers. Most wusses do!
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- How To Tie A Double Nymph Rig? A Step-By-Step Guide
- Fly Fishing With Small Flies (The Complete Guide)
- Fly Fishing Gear For Beginners – Here’s What You Need
- How Often Should You Clean Your Fly Line?
Winding It All Up
If you don’t have a large-arbor reel yet, what the heck are you waiting for? If faster line retrieval, being a more conscientious fly fishing practitioner and spending more time fishing than detangling isn’t enough to convince you, the fact that having one will stroke your ego while saving you from several threats to your precious digits, certainly oughta do the job.
So, right after you sign up to get new Fly Fishing Fix alerts and articles piped right into your inbox, get your wussie butt down to your local fly shop and score yourself a sweet new large-arbor reel! Not only will the shop owner thank you, your knuckles will too!
